The Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef with the world record for largest stir-fry shows us how to cut, cook, and clean with tools that make life easier — and total out at $290.81By Jet Tila

The Pan That Cooks Anything

The Pan That Cooks Anything

You can burn some steaks in it, and you can cook steak and eggs in the same pan for breakfast. You can also bake cornbread and cakes in it — with a 15-inch skillet, you don't even need a cake pan anymore. Line the bottom with parchment paper, make a cake mix, and throw that in there in the oven. It's the MacGyver of pans. You can even roast a whole chicken in it. (15-1/4" cast-iron skillet, $48.98, cooking.com)

On How to Clean Cast-Iron:
Some people say never to wash cast-iron, and that's okay. But if the pan isn't really dirty, the trick is dumping a half-cup of kosher salt in it, scouring out the guck that's stuck to it, and putting it right back on the heat. If you do have to wash it, if you've kind of gone a little crazy — which a lot of people do — it's about not being too abrasive while washing it. I'm okay with a little bit of soap and water and a little soft sponge. Just go from the wash, onto the stove, full heat, and once all the water is evaporated, hit it with a little bit of pan spray, and you're good to go. The biggest mistake is air-drying, or letting it drip dry.

The (Relatively) Stylish Apron

The (Relatively) Stylish Apron

First of all, this will protect your pants. That's absolutely the primary reason this is important. And I just think you look more pro with the bistro. White T-shirt, some jeans, a bistro apron — you're looking much better than that butcher look. Which is not "sexy." This is the ticket to getting style points. If you've got friends coming over, you're looking like Bobby Flay on Grill It!. You're never going to catch him in a white butcher apron. This isn't American Psycho. (Bistro apron, $12.95, chefwear.com)